Dynamic Lists
Table of Contents
Contributing Content to Dynamic Lists
Removing Content from Dynamic Lists
Reordering Content in Dynamic Lists
Adding RSS Feeds to Dynamic Lists
What are Dynamic Lists?
Dynamic lists contain a list of content items on a Web page based on a content server query. The metadata on the content must match the query to display in the list.
For example, the ITS News page contains a dynamic list. Developers built a query into the layout that pulls content into the dynamic list based on the metadata that is entered by contributors. The ITS News query looks for metadata that matches the Web Site Section (ITS News) and Object Type (Data File). Content containing that metadata will be dynamically pulled into the ITS News page, with the most recently edited content appearing at the top. A portion of each piece of content, such as the content title and introductory text about the content, automatically appear in the dynamic list. Each item in the list links to its respective content which is displayed on a secondary page. This automates the process of adding news to the ITS News page.
Other Examples of Dynamic Lists
ITS Special Events and Projects
If you would like a dynamic list added to your ITS Web site or need an existing dynamic list changed, please submit a Remedy request to "ITS-ITS.UNC.EDU WEBSITE" or submit a trouble ticket through the online help request.
Contributing Content to Dynamic Lists
New Web content can be added to dynamics lists within the contribution section of the Web site. Contributors can access this section by logging into contribution mode, navigating to the section containing the dynamic list and clicking on the contribution link.
On the contribution page for the dynamic list, select the Switch Region Content link.
Choose the New Contributor data file option and click Next >.
The Check-in content form that opens will automatically be populated with the metadata needed for the query to pull the new content into the dynamic list. Add a title and additional metadata as needed, click Next > and then Finish. This will create an empty data file where you can add text and graphics.
Note: The title in the metadata field is the title of the content on the dynamic list, and the title on the secondary page that contains the content. In some dynamic lists, text in the Comments metadata field populates the introductory text that appears on the dynamic list above the Continue Reading… link.
Click the Edit icon on the new content to add information to the secondary page.
The items in most dynamic lists are ordered by the date they were last modified. In other words, the most recently edited content appears at the top of the list. The order can be changed so the list items appear in alphabetical order, either ascending or descending, or based on the title of the content.
Removing Content from Dynamic Lists
To remove a content item from a dynamic list, you can delete all of the revisions of the file (not recommended), modify the metadata that determines that it shows in the dynamic list, or expire the content by setting the expiration date to a date in the past.
Reordering Content in Dynamic Lists
Review the Reordering the contents of a dynamic list which is ordered by Release Date documentation to learn how to change the order of content in dynamic lists.
Adding RSS Feeds to Dynamic Lists
The Syndication Feed link can be added to CarolinaContent pages containing a dynamic list. This allows contributors to easily distribute news and updates to site visitors who have subscribed to the feed. The ITS News dynamic list contains an example of the Syndication Feed link.
If you would like the Syndication Feed link added to your dynamic list, please submit a Remedy request to "ITS-ITS.UNC.EDU WEBSITE" or submit a trouble ticket through the online help request.
